Israel: anti-Netanyahu demonstration in Tel Aviv, despite the coronavirus

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Anti-Netanyahu demonstrators in Tel Aviv, Saturday April 25, 2020. RFI / Guilhem Delteil

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Several thousand Israelis gathered this Saturday April 25 in Tel Aviv to protest against the possibility of a new Netanyahu government. For several weeks, the movement of "black flags" denounces what it perceives as an "erosion of democracy". 

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With our special correspondent in Tel Aviv, Guilhem Delteil

The protest came five days after the signing of a power-sharing agreement between the outgoing Prime Minister and his main rival Benny Gantz, paving the way for the formation of a new government.

At the entrance to Yitzhak Rabbi Square, police cars broadcast messages calling for protesters to stand two meters apart. In the square, the police patrolled to make sure that the protesters were wearing a mask. But even in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic, it was important for Anat, a Tel Aviv woman, to express her opposition to Benyamin Netanyahu: "Everything he does is for his own ego. All of us here believe that he is corrupt, that he has corrupted our society. This is how we see it.   "

Benny Gantz helped Netanyahu " kill democracy in Israel "

By signing the government agreement , Benny Gantz assured to have succeeded in saving the Israeli democratic system, believing that the reforms which he considered the most problematic had been rejected. But these assurances do not convince Shahar, a thirty-something living in the suburbs of Tel Aviv. He helped Netanyahu kill democracy in Israel, " he says . The situation is worse now because he was the main opponent of Netanyahu and he did nothing. I think it is worse because he has given Netanyahu his consent to continue and destroy the judicial system.  "

Whenever the name of Benjamin Netanyahu is mentioned, the protesters whistle. But the hoots are also now addressed to Benny Gantz and the Labor leader who has also agreed to join the government. And the protesters chant together: "  shame, shame, shame !  "

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  • Israel
  • Benyamin netanyahu
  • Coronavirus

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